A Comparative Analysis Of The Coverage Of Ghana’s Male And Female Ministers In The Media And Why They Made The News

ABSTRACT

The main aim of this study was to compare the coverage received by Ghana’s male and female ministers in the Daily Graphic and Daily Guide newspapers and to determine what role gender played in the selection, framing and placement of these news stories. In order to achieve the aims of the study, a mixed methods approach was employed. Quantitative content analysis was used to examine and compare the coverage received by male and female ministers in the newspapers, in terms of quality, quantity and prominence. In-depth interviews with reporters of the same newspapers were used to determine the role played by gender in the selection, framing and placement of these stories. The composite week method was used to sample 132 issues of both newspapers while purposive sampling was used in selecting four respondents for the in-depth interviews. The study was underpinned by the Symbolic Annihilation and Framing theories. The findings showed that male ministers received more than half of the total coverage. Female ministers recorded more stories with negative tone compared to male ministers. The findings also showed that male journalists reported more on male ministers while female journalists reported more on female reporters. However, female ministers received more prominent coverage than their male counterparts by dominating on the front, centre and back pages of the newspapers selected for the study. Recommendations were made for further studies to expand the range of media, notably radio, television and the growing social media platforms. News houses and political organizations should also develop policies of affirmative action to encourage greater attention to women as gender, political and social minorities in Ghana.